Chapter 1033 – Everyone’s Calculations (Part Nine)
Nie Xun observed Meng Heng, but Meng Heng was also scrutinizing him.
When he saw Nie Xun approaching from the backlight, he momentarily mistook him for a stunning beauty, her exquisite face radiating charm.
As Meng Heng focused, he finally discerned Nie Xun’s true appearance and couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
There truly exists such breathtaking beauty in the world!
After his astonishment, Meng Heng faintly felt that Nie Xun’s face looked somewhat familiar, but the memory was too distant, and he couldn’t recall immediately.
Seeing this, Nie Xun chuckled and teased, “Does this face resemble a demon that it has left Brother Heng speechless?”
Upon hearing this, Meng Heng hastily collected his thoughts and stopped pondering where he might have seen Nie Xun before.
“How could that be?” Meng Heng replied, “If you, Brother Xun, truly looked like a demon, then I would have no face left to see anyone!”
Although Meng Heng had never met Nie Xun, he felt an inexplicable kinship, as if the two had been long-time friends.
When Nie Xun called him “Brother Heng,” Meng Heng naturally replied, addressing him as “Brother Xun.”
They instantly referred to each other as brothers, drawing their connection closer with just a few light-hearted exchanges.
While Meng Heng chatted with Nie Xun, he silently marveled at the other’s thoughtfulness.
Why did he think Nie Xun was so considerate?
Meng Heng had been stripped of his clan name and now only had his given name, making things quite awkward for him.
Nie Xun cleverly called him “Brother Heng,” skillfully avoiding this aspect and preserving Meng Heng’s remaining dignity—wasn’t that considerate?
Meng Heng appreciated this attentiveness, his expression softening and his demeanor becoming more friendly and warm.
“Brother Xun, your beauty is unmatched, perhaps there are few in the world who can stand alongside you. You shouldn’t belittle yourself,” Meng Heng honestly explained his momentary daze, “Please forgive my impolite behavior just now.”
Nie Xun had known since childhood that he was good-looking and had heard countless compliments.
He was already tired of hearing them.
Yet, when these words came from Meng Heng’s mouth, Nie Xun felt a delightful sense of comfort, the corners of his lips curving upward slightly.
Meng Heng added, “Don’t find it amusing, but when I saw you walking over, I felt like I glimpsed an old friend I hadn’t seen in years.”
Nie Xun was startled, but he replied, “Really? Seems it’s not just me who feels this way!”
Even though they felt like old friends at first sight, Meng Heng didn’t let his guard down and covertly probed Nie Xun’s intentions.
In his opinion, Nie Xun’s visit must have been at Huang Song’s behest, but he wasn’t sure what the goal was.
After talking for a good while, the sky outside began to darken.
Regretfully, Nie Xun said his goodbyes, and Meng Heng stood up to see him off, still feeling incomplete.
Once he had sent Nie Xun away, Meng Heng remained clueless about the purpose of Nie Xun’s visit.
Despite their pleasant conversation, if you dissected the dialogue, you’d find they only chatted about youthful anecdotes, without touching on any political matters.
“Does Young Master really not know Mr. Nie?”
Meng Heng wandered back to his room, his wife’s puzzled inquiry ringing in his ears.
“I felt he was familiar, but as I think back, I’ve truly never met him,” Meng Heng replied, regaining focus, “I’ve heard Mr. Nie hails from Zhong Zhao, Bianzhou, and hasn’t left his home country before working for Huang Song. How could I have met him—why do you ask?”
Meng Heng’s wife pointed at the pile of gifts on the table with a sigh, “Mr. Nie is truly diligent and caring. Look at the gifts he sent, each one thoughtful and heartfelt. While Governor Huang gifted exquisite silks and gold, this lady sent generous amounts of nourishing medicines and food for pregnant women. These materials are delicate and soft, not dyed and perfect for women and infants…”
Huang Song’s gifts were valuable but many weren’t suitable for a pregnant woman—beautiful but impractical.
Mr. Nie’s couple sent gifts with genuine intent, as if every item was carefully considered, containing soothing herbs, food, fabrics, and even a box of broken silver. Huang Song’s gold couldn’t be spent, yet Mr. Nie’s box of silver could come in handy immediately.
Though the gifts weren’t overly lavish, the thoughtfulness was more than enough.
Meng Heng frowned, reaching out to touch those items.
After pondering, his expression relaxed.
“Mr. Nie mentioned earlier that his wife is also pregnant.”
It made sense why they had prepared items necessary for expectant mothers.
After thinking for a while, this was the only reasoning that fit.
Meng Heng glanced at his wife and saw her smiling, showing no signs of feeling slighted. His impression of the Nie couple brightened even more.
He’d heard that Mr. Nie’s wife was Mr. Yuanjing’s legitimate young daughter, from a noble background with excellent upbringing.
Such a noble girl was inherently proud, unbothered with mingling with those of lower status.
Since his wife was the daughter of a butcher, no one had taught her how to deal with those difficult noblewomen during her time at home, and after marrying him, she had often faced both overt and covert ostracism from other noblewomen.
Meng Heng understood this but felt helpless to assist her.
Every time he saw her dejected expression, it pained him as well—he could only try to guide her as best as he could.
When Mr. Nie and his wife paid a visit, they couldn’t just take care of Mr. Nie while leaving his wife neglected, could they?
Ultimately, it was still the hostess’s duty to host.
From the look of it, Mrs. Nie seemed to have a gentle temperament, as she didn’t appear to be a demanding noblewoman.
His wife commented, “No wonder—Mrs. Nie seems childish but is very knowledgeable about raising children.”
Meng Heng casually asked, “What’s that Nie lady like?”
His wife replied, “I was somewhat worried I might offend her, but after interactions, that lady’s disposition is truly impeccable.”
She had mingled with several noblewomen, but none compared to Mrs. Nie.
Not to mention, just her overall demeanor made one feel instantly drawn to her.
However—
One thing seemed quite odd: that Mrs. Nie treated her with utmost respect—
Yet, she was just a butcher’s daughter; what made her worthy of such courtesy from a lady of noble birth?
Thus, his wife had asked Meng Heng if he was close with Nie Xun.
The couple exchanged glances, utterly perplexed.
Night had fallen, and Meng Heng and his wife were exhausted, each going through their nighttime routines to sleep.
As Meng Heng closed his eyes, he couldn’t fall asleep, with Nie Xun’s face constantly flashing before him.
He tossed and turned, waking his wife beside him.
“Young Master?”
His wife queried in confusion, and a light bulb went off in Meng Heng’s mind as he suddenly recalled another face.
“I remember now—Mother!” Meng Heng blurted out.
His wife was surprised, “Mother? What does that have to do with your mother-in-law?”
“Nie Xun’s face resembles my mother’s when she was young—that’s why I thought he looked familiar—”
His wife responded, “Mr. Nie resembles your mother when she was young?”
Meng Heng said, “I couldn’t figure out who Nie Xun reminded me of, then I remembered when I was a child—Nie Xun and my mother indeed shared some similarities.”
The Meng and Liu clans had enmity, and Meng Heng was also somewhat constrained. Even after starting a family, he couldn’t bring his wife to meet his biological mother.
The last time he saw his mother was six years ago.
